Canadian Moving Picture Digest (Aug 7, 1954)

JAY L. SMITH
EDITOR AND
PUBLISHER

MOVING

VOL. 46, NO, 32

PICTURE

21 DUNDAS SQUARE, TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA

RAY LEWIS
FOUNDER
1915-1954

AUGUST 7, 1954

400 Can. Houses With CinemaScope

By JAY L. SMITH

RESPONSE of the Trade locally

to the first issue of the NEW
Canadian Moving Picture Digest,
has been, I am happy to say, most
gratifying. There are a lot of bugs
still to be ironed out in the new
set-up of the paper, but I am confi-
dent we are on the right track. As
you can all appreciate, to change
the entire format of a weekly trade
Paper, virtually overnight, was no
small task, and certainly for the
first week or two, you, as well as
ourselves, will see plenty of room
for improvement. Your comments
on the NEW Digest will be most
welcome, as much if not more so,
if they contain some CONSTRUC-
TIVE criticism, than if they are
just laudatory. The Digest is
YOUR Canadian Motion Picture
Trade paper, and it is only with
your help and suggestions that we
at The Digest, can fulfill your re-
quirements.

Sam Eckman, Jr., for the past
27 years head of M-G-M’s opera-
tions in Great Britain, has an-
nounced the promotion of Charles
Goldsmith to the position of Man-
aging Director of M-G-M Pictures
Ltd., and New Empire Ltd., effec-
tive Aug. Ist. Eckman, who retains
Chairmanship of the companies,
as well as of Robbins Music Corp.,
Leo Feist, Ltd., B. Feldman & Co.,
Dix, Ltd., and British & Continen-
tal Music Agencies, mentions in
his cable to The Digest, that the
appointment of Mr. Goldsmith will
undoubtedly start rumors of his
(Eckman’s) imminent retirement.
However, Sam Eckman’s contract
with M-G-M was just renewed in
1952, and kas several years to go,
and besides which, as he himself
puts it, “I never intend to retire
from the film industry, which has
(Continued on Page 2)

Fox Demonstrations Create
Upsurge In ‘Scope Orders

A policy of meeting each situation and analyzing its particular
problems, has made it possible for 20th-Fox to finalize deals with over
300 theatres, on terms that all can afford to pay, which will result accord-
ing to Peter Myers, 20th-Fox’s Canadian General Manager, in about 400

theatres being equipped to play
CinemaScope pictures by the end
of the summer.

This sales policy combined with
the recently completed demonstra-
tions across Canada, to widespread
exhibitor and industry acclaim,
has brought forth a new upsurge

(Continued on Page 6)

Calgary Tops
Jaro Drive
At the end of the twenty-seven
week Branch Managers’ Playdate
Drive, Calgary emerges the win-
ner, under the leadership of Frank
(Continued on Page 6)

Ballyhoo Contest Winners
Honored At Luncheon

With a record 1,900 stunts submitted in a period of 25 weeks, Dan
Krendel’s District B Ballyhoo Showmanship Contest participants and
the top executives of Famous Players Corp. gathered at the King Edward
Hotel, last week, to pay honor to the winners, and present them with

their prizes.

After a few short welcoming
words by Dan Krendel, and the
presentation of the prizes by J. J.
Fitzgibbons, President of Famous

(Continued on Page 5)

Keep your<a) (EX on

z= Tas

A Dee

ER

LOUIS ROSENFELD
(See Page 3)

SAH RTI
3

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ae

: NNUAI SA TERAQVH

Sth Drive-Im Opens
Im Edumontom Area
Featuring $20,000 worth of
modern equipment, the Golden
West drive-in theatre opened at
Edmonton July 21. Theatre has a
(Continued on Page 2)

Toronto Showing
Perspecta Sound

Perspecta Sound, the system de-
veloped by MGM and adopted by
Paramount and Warner Bros., will
be demonstrated on Thursday,

August 26th, 9.30 a.m. at
Loew’s Uptown, Toronto.

The first theatre in Canada to be
equipped with this new directional
sound system was the Loew's, To-
ronto, for MGM's re-issue of
“Gone With The Wind.”

the

Alliance Films To Distribute
Lowell Thomas Production

“Out of This World,” the Technicolor picture filmed by Lowell
Thomas and Lowell Thomas Jr., across the Himalayas in the forbidden
kingdom of Tibet, will be distributed in Canada by Alliance Films Ltd.,
in accordance with an agreement signed last week by Carroll L. Puciato,

head of Carroll Pictures, Inc., and
J. L. Smith, president and general
sales manager of Alliance Films
Ltd. Deal covers both 35 mm. and
16 mm. rights for Canada.

The picture in its initial runs in
the U.S. has piled up record-break-
ing grosses at a number of thea-
tres including the Guild Theatre

(Continued on Page 7)

Barvon Captains
Paramount Drive

Gordon —_ Lightstone, General
Manager for Paramount in Canada,
last week announced the appoint-
ment of Win Barron as Dominion
Captain of Paramount's 40th Anni-

(Continued on Page 6)

PAGE TWO

On the Beam

(Continued from Page 1)
been my life and my livelihood for
so many years . . . my position
with the company will still be on
a full time and active basis.”

According to a resolution passed
by the Board of Directors of the
Theatre Owners of America in Hol-
lywood last June, the TOA is
scheduled to select an “industry
coordinator”, a man “qualified and
experienced” to carry out the TOA
plan to encourage independent pro-
duction, by way of financing as
well as guaranteeing bookings.
Two men are being prominently
mentioned for the coordinator role,
Ned E. Depinet, former head of
RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., and
William F. Rodgers, former Gen-
eral Manager of Sales-Distribution
for Loew’s, Inc. Either man would
be an excellent choice for the job,
for both fill the requirements set
out by the TOA Board, being fully
able to “comprehend all matters
relating to the exhibition, produc-
tion and distribution of motion
pictures and the financing there-
of.” Any action is subject to ap-
proval of the general TOA body,
which is scheduled to meet in Chi-
cago, Oct. 31-Nov. 4.

Frank Davis, Jr., President of
the Selznick Releasing Organiza-
tion, has just announced the ap-
pointment of Ben Babb as head of
advertising and publicity for SRO
in New York. Babb was associated
with Selznick on the Coast from
1946 to 1949. He starts to work
immediately on campaigns for the
re-release of “Duel in the Sun”
and other pictures, which Budd
Rogers is handling for SRO.

LAD to hear that U-I’s remake

of the Lloyd C. Douglas best-
seller, “The Magnificent Obses-
sion,” is breaking all records for
the company in its initial runs.
First reports show the picture run-
ning ahead of the sensational
“Glenn Miller Story” at the Palace,
Cleveland and the Palace, Akron,
and establishing new house records
in Chicago, Atlanta and Youngs-
town. The original version, pro-
duced by Universal in 1935, co-
starred Irene Dunne, and Robert
Taylor and established Taylor as
a star. The new version, in Tech-
nicolor, co-stars Jane Wyman,
Rock Hudson and Barbara Rush.

Incidentally, it appears that the
producers feel that twice-told tales
can be more profitable even than
first editions. Paramount, for ex-
ample, are reported to have a bud-

_ get of over $6,000,000 for the
remake of “The Ten Command-
ments,” and $3,000,000 for “The
Covered Wagon.”

~“pIereT

AA To Co-produce
With Cornel Wilde

Allied Artists announced it
would co-produce “The Big Com-
bo” with Cornel Wilde’s Theodora
Productions and Security Pictures.
The gangster melodrama will start
Aug. 26, Jack Palance and Jean
Wallace, who is Mrs. Wilde, were
named as co-stars with Mr. Wilde.

Allied Artists is in the midst of
large scale expansion, and is af-
filiating with outside producers and
production units. John Huston re-
cently signed with the studio and
negotiations are now going on with
William Wyler and Billy Wilder.

Fox Buys ““Can-Can”’

Twentieth Century-Fox will film
“Can-Can” under a $750,000-deal
set last week.

The purchase gives the studio a
big backlog of musical properties,
including the $5,000,000 “There's
No Business Like Show Business,”
now in production and said to be
the most expensive film musical
ever made in Hollywood. Other
projected musicals at Fox are “The
King and I,” “Daddy Long Legs,”
“Pink Tights’ and ‘Carmen
Jones.”

Horvor To Boredom
Childven‘s Reaction
Children’s reactions to motion-

“picture scenes, recorded recently

by infra-red photographs, revealed
a wide range of responses ranging
from horror to boredom. A report
compiled by Miss Mary Field, exe-
cutive officer of the Children’s Film
Foundation for the Carnegie Trust
states:

“Little of the fear aroused ap-
pears lasting. Most children pro-
tect themselves against what they
personally dislike—blood, violence
and height — by shutting their
eyes.”

AUGUST 7, 1954
ae I ML ES

Plottel Predicts "Bannes
Year At Empire-Universal

Mark Plottel, Assistant general manager, Empire-Universal is a
busy man these days. Currently running and in its ninth week, is the
1954 Republic Sales Drive, which ends on December 4th. The Republic
Drive, has always been successful, but this year backed by some of

Imsurwe Goldstein
Productions Future

Negotiations to insure the con-
tinuation of Leonard Goldstein
Productions are under way. The
producer’s sudden death a week
ago left the company’s future in
question.

Robert Goldstein, the late pro-
ducer’s brother, and Robert L.
Jacks, both vice-presidents of the
company, have been conferring
with officials of United Artists,
which has a one-year agreement to
release the company’s products.
The outcome of the talks is ex-
pected to be known shortly.

“Black Tuesday” and “Stranger
on Horseback,” the initial features
for United Artists were com-
pleted last week.

The original plan was to produce
ten pictures for United Artists re-
lease in a period of a year. Six
other properties were in various
stages of production preparation
at the time Mr. Goldstein was
stricken.

**The Violemt Mem”’’

Columbia Pictures has announc-
ed that the CinemaScope Techni-
color production it had filmed un-
der the working title of “Rough
Company” will be released as “The
Violent Men.” Starring Glenn
Ford, Barbara Stanwyck and Ed-
ward G. Robinson, “The Violent
Men” was directed by Rudolph
Mate and produced by Lewis
Rachmil.

Cagney Back To Gangster Roles
Co-Stars With Doris Day At MGM

Metro - Goldwyn - Mayer has
chosen James Cagney to co-star
with Doris Day in the biography
of Ruth Etting. The studio is call-
ing the story “Love Me or Leave
Me.”

The former movie tough guy
will play a Chicago hoodlum call-
ed The Gimp. In the film, his
underworld machinations will be
largely responsible for pushing
Miss Etting from obscurity to
fame and fortune as a star of
nightclubs.

The role calls for Mr. Cagney to
go back to the type of part that
made him famous in gangster

films of the Nineteen Thirties. Of
late, the actor has been seen in
more sympathetic roles. He has
just finished the part of the hero
in “Run for Cover” and soon will
embark on “Mr. Roberts” as the
harried ship’s captain.

Miss Day was being borrowed
from Warner Brothers to replace
Ava Gardner, who was placed en
suspension for refusing the film.
Miss Day is in the midst of
“Young At Heart” for Warners
and will be ready for her first job
at Metro early in September. Four-
teen songs will be included in the
film,

the best product Republic has yet
produced and the current top gros-
ser “Johnny Guitar,” starring Joan
Crawford, a record drive is in the
making.

Despite the activity for the Re-
public Drive, Mark took time off
some weeks back, for a swing
through the West, all the way to
Vancouver, building up interest in
the Republic Drive as well as lay-
ing plans for the showing of the
top box-office winners from Uni-
versal-International, shortly to be
released. Enthusiasm, backed by
the “out of this world figures of
‘Saskatchewan,’ a terrific grosser
out West” and the highest sales in
the history of the company, partic-
ularly out West, have not kept
Mark Plottel and Empire-Universal
from reading its plans for a new
record year.

“Magnificent Obsession,” states
Mr. Plottel, “Will out-gross The
Glenn Miller Story,” this as well
as our “S CinemaScope produc-
tions,” he added, will make this a
banner year for Empire-Universal.

Drave-Iue
(Continued from Page 1)
66 by 38 foot CinemaScope

screen, double cone speakers and
facilities for 600 cars. It will be
expanded later to accommodalz
800 cars. The theatre also has its
own plumbing system and a 300-
foot well provides the water. It is
Edmonton’s fifth drive-in.

Built in 40 days at a cost of
$100,000, the theatre is owned by
the Golden West Drive-in Com-
pany, an independent firm, with

Peter Ewankow president and
manager.
Mr. Ewankow operates the

Roxy theatre at Barrhead, Alta.
With him in the drive-in project
are William Stetsko, operator of
an Edmonton cafe, and the Hoff-
man brothers, of Barrhead. A
staff of 18 persons, including 10
Waitresses, are employed.

Toronto Wins JARO
1G6mm Date Drive

Sam Lambert, Sales Manager of
the 16mm Division of JARO, has
announced that, after a nineteen-
week playdate drive ending June
26th, Toronto wins, with Mon-
treal and Vancouver as _ runner-
ups.

MAUGUST 7, 1954

W.$. Receipts Drop
7.1 p.c. From 1948

Total receipts of motion picture
ttheatres fell 17.1% from 1948 to
1953, the U.S. census bureau re-
|ported on the basis of a preliminary
‘survey. The decline in receipts
!from admissions was _ actually
20.59%, but the sale of refresh-
iments increased by 38.5%, proving
ia lifesaver to many exhibitors.

Total take for 1953, according
to the census bureau, was $1,323,-
838,000, compared with $1,596,-
665,000 in 1948. Number of
theatres in the U. S. declined very
slightly—from 18,509 in 1948, to
18,205 in 1953.

Receipts from admissions—ex-
clusive of federal, state and local

admissions taxes — brought the
exhibitors $989,868,000 last year,
down from the $1,244,355,000

total for 1948,
Warner Studio Busy

Two starrers for Julie Harris at
Warners, a CinemaScope produc-
tion of “East of Eden” with Ray-
mond Massey and “I Am A Cam-
era.” Warners also announced a
distribution deal with Irwin Allen’s
Windsor Productions, who will
produce “The Animal World,” a
Pageant of animal life from the
dinosaur age to present times.

The Human Jungle

Gary Merrill and Jan Sterling to
head cast of Allied Artists “The
Human Jungle.”

Keep Your Eyes On

LOUIS ROSENFELD

The name Louis Rosenfeld
has been a prominent one in
Canadian films since the year
1914, at which time he was head
of the Famous Players Film
Service,, which then had the
franchise for Paramount Pic-
tures. Remaining with this com-
pany until 1919, Mr. Rosenfeld
then formed the Independent
Film Company, Ltd., to distrib-
ute Columbia Pictures in Can-
ada. When the name of this
company was changed to Co-
lumbia Pictures of Canada, Ltd.,
Louis Rosenfeld became presi-
dent in which capacity he built
the new exchange from the
ground up to its present promi-
nence. This achievement marks
Louis Rosenfeld among the out-
standing film-men in Canada to-
day.

Mr. Rosenfeld is also a part-
ner in Premier Operating Cor-
poration.

“pier?

Alcross Che Country

Toronto and District

In connection with a special screening of JARO’s “Doctor in the
House” at the Windsor Theatre, Hamilton, Critic John Robinson of the
Spectator made the complaint that two managers had been lost to
Hamilton. One of them was Jim McDonough but the second was dif-
ferent, this being Mrs. Jean Ford of the Windsor and York.

Robinson explained: “What I mean is that Mrs. Ford is the only
theatre manager I know that is pretty.”

e ¢ e

After co-operating with the London Free Press in rounding up the
seven House brothers of Port Stanley, all farmers and bachelors, for
the big exploitation in New York on MGM's “Seven Brides for Seven

Brothers,” Manager Fred Jackson of London Loew's rather proudly

miade it known that he had captured the Canadian premiere of the pic-
ture, scheduled to open August 6 with Ruta Lee, one of the Seven
Brides, escorted by Chet Friedman ballyhooing the premiere.

The seven Houses are counted on for a personal appearance. Inci-

dentally, they returned from New York still single.
e e e

The railway strike threat looked so serious to Prime Minister Louis
St. Laurent that he intimated July 28 that a special session of parliament
umight have to be called around the middle of August when the strike
vote of some 130,000 employees would be known. Film distributors are
watching uneasily on account of the necessary shipments of prints.

e e e €

Manager Bill Burke of the Brantford Capitol has still another tie-in
with the Expositor daily newspaper. This time, names of local residents
are scattered through the classified section and a double pass is presented
when the person provides identification.

The names are included in special want ads which, in themselves,
are boosts for the current attraction, making the co-operation really
effective,

e e oO

Two of the Drive-Ins in the Toronto area had live attractions when
the new 400 D-I was opened by 20th Century Theatres. The Scarboro,
a unit of Sam Fingold’s National chain, added Dr. Ballard’s Mobile Zoo
while the Dufferin Drive-In presented the Western Musical Trio featur-
ing Little Slim.

e e s e

As a solution for the continuing dispute of the Federation of Musi-
cians and the American Guild of Variety Artists, which appeared to be
getting more complex, the Toronto Globe and Mail, through Alee Barris,
made the practical suggestion that the grandstand attraction could well
be the premiere of a big film production in either CinemaScope or
VistaVision,

Maritimes
Mr. Teddy Dowbiggan has joined the Paramount Film Service
Limited as Salesman in the Maritimes territory. He is a son of Mr!
Tom Dowbiggan veteran Film man of Montreal.
e e °
Mr. Patrick Edwards who managed the ‘Popular’ theatre at Grand
Falls, Newfoundland, for the past forty years passed away recently. His
son is now carrying on as Manager of this theatre.
a e e
It is rumoured that the ‘Majestic’ theatre, Cornerbrook—Globe’
theatre, Gander—Princess’ theatre, Belle Island and the ‘Popular’ the-
atre, Grand Falls, Newfoundland—all independently owned theatres are
installing CinemaScope. ;
e e e
It looks as though CinemaScope is catching on in the Maritimes.
The ‘Vogue’ theatre, Chatham, N.B. is opening CinemaScope with Opti-
cal Sound on August 4th with one week's run of “The Robe.” Mr. Fred
(Continued on Page 6)

THE CANADIAN
MOVING PICTURE DIGEST

Entered as Second Class Metter
JAY L. SMITH
Editor-in-Chief

MAX CHIC
Associote Editor
e

Address all mail to the Publisher
CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE
DIGEST COMPANY, LIMITED

21 Dundas Square - Toronto
Telephone: EMpire 8-8696
Cable: Raydigest
Established 1915
Publication weekly
Subscription: $5.00 yearly

— Correspondents —
BRUCE PEACOCK Regina, Sask.
JACK DROY... Vancouver, B.C.
WILL McLAUGHLIN Ottawa, Ont.
BILL PRESS Toronto, Ont.
HELEN CROWLEY. St. John, N.S.

aes
vi

The new VistaVision camera.

MacLeam’s Pick Ten
Top Motion Pictures

Maclean's Magazine has selected
the ten best movies of all time.
Movie reviewer Clyde Gilmour, in
his “supercolossal memoirs,” says
it was a difficult job to pick the
ten, but went ahead and did it any-
way.

Gilmour's list: The Bicycle
Thief, Brief Encounter, City Lights,
The Fallen Idol, From Here To
Eternity, Great Expectations, Hen-
ry V, High Noon, The Lavender
Hill Mob and The Maltese Falcon.

Maclean's movie reviewer says
he was somewhat stunned to find
that he has sat through 10,000
movies in 35 years.

First Class Non-Union

PROJECTIONIST
Take full charge booth

Continuous operation

$100.00 Weekly
Can provide accommodation at
very reosenabdle rental,
All applications treated contidentially.

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CANADIAN MOVING PICTURE DIGEST
21 DUNDAS SQ.

TORONTO

brings you the story of the two great blood lines t

and the one great family that emerged
Indian Princess for

took an

His life was torn
by taunts of his
heritage and for-
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q . a

He crossed the color
line the way he
crossed the Rockies

as The Half-breed Son

a Ne ae

20th
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presents —

a bride!

His jealousy flamed
into rebellion
dering Devereaux against the tyranny
tensions erupt. of his fathe

as The Governu: s Daughter

Her indiscretion
made the smoul-

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=|»

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when Matt Devereaux

She wona white
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(a
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Color by DeLuxe * IN GENUINE 4-TRACK HIGH-FIDELITY MAGNETIC DIRECTIONAL-STEREOPHONIC SOUND

with HUGH O'BRIAN - EDUARD FRANZ + EARL HOLLIMAN - E. G. MARSHALL « CARL BENTO

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4

MAUIGUST 7, 1954

JAARO’s Giant Promotion
““Man With A Million”

A giant promotion for JARO’s “Man With A Million” in its Toronto

~plilaydate was launched this week.

The “Man With A Million” campaign falls into the following
Stages, (1) Tie-up with Nash Motor Car Company. They are donating a

Nash Rambler as part of the first
porize and are putting all their local
déealers into the promotion for local
aodvertising.

(2) Tie-up with Dominion Stores
atnd their 57 outlets in Toronto.
Tihey are donating a free flight to
E2ngland for two by Trans-Canada
Atirlines and 100 consolation prizes
pblus $7,000.00 in advertising which
wnill be:

(a) A full page in the Toronto
naewspapers.

(b) Two and a half pages in the
Tforonto newspapers.

(c) Eight feet by three feet ban-
mers on all 57 store windows plus
Shtreamers, pennants and cards in
aall stores.

(d) One half million leaflets dis-
tributed through all cash registers,
sstuffed into parcels, etc.
ae The contest is a Gregory. Peck
jjingle to be completed by Toronto
ccitizens. Entry forms are available
tthrough all Nash dealers, Domin-
lion Stores, Odeon Theatres and
Inewspaper ads.

(3) A tie-up with the Arthur
IMurray School of Dancing in
‘which they will present the pro-
{fessional Dance Championships on
ithe stage during the showing of
“Man With A Million.” In addi-
ition they will take newspaper ad-

vertising on the theatre page for
three days prior to the stage per-
formance, tieing in with the title
of the film. They are also making
a give-away of, approximately $500
in free dance instruction.

The majority of credit for this
tie-in goes to Douglas Mercer, a
new, permanent member of
Odeon’s publicity department, as
well as W. Tyers, Jim Hardiman,
Margot Hamilton and Tom Knight,
JARO publicity head.

DOUGLAS MERCER

The Conqueror

RKO’s “The Conqueror” is be-
fore the cameras on location in
Utah.

Luncheon For Winners

(Continued from Page 1)
Players Corp., to the winners, Mr.
Fitzgibbons praised the leadership
given to the rest of the circuit by
“the activity of District B, which
has developed to a much finer de-
gree than the rest in the circuit.”

Mr. Fitzgibbons compared the
“ideas in Ballyhoo” to that of an
acorn, with a kernel inside of it,
which eventually grew into a tree,
and from which important and big
things were made, and concluded
by stating that every film was a
jewel, “that has some value, if we
knew how to appraise it.”

Mr. Bolstad, Vice-president of
Famous Players spoke and cited
Famous Players sound position, as
a result of showmanship, “that
brought results at the box-office.”
Mr. Stein concluded the speech-
making by stressing that “no
town is too small, or no theatre,
that hasn’t the means if the man-
ager wanted to do a job.” Mr.
Stein congratulated Mr. Krendel

for the way the Contest was han-
dled and the leadership provided
by him.

Prizes were presented to Art
Cauley, Peterboro, Bob Harvey,
North Bay, Al Hartshorn, Oshawa,
Jack Bridges, Timmins, Paul
Turnbull, Hamilton, H. R. Patte,
John Heggie (absent on vacation)
and Herb Black, In addition to
the above, who were listed on the
front cover of the Digest, two
weeks ago, Olga Sharabura, Eddie
Lansbury, Bob Nelson and Len
Gouin won certificates for their
monthly showings.

Seated at the head table were
Jimmy Nairn, Morris Stein, R. W.
Bolstad, Dan Krendel, J. J. Fitz-
gibbons, Ben Geldsaler, Mort Mar-
golius and Bob Eaves. Others who
were in attendance: Bob Myers,
Budd Barker, L. G. Geering, Bob
Beauvais, Al Troyer, Charles Den-
telbeck, Jules Wolfe, Tiff Cooke,
Max Chic and Dan Krendel’s
daughter.

“piercer ————

Brando To Simg In
“Guys And Dolls”

Marlon Brando agreed to lift his
voice in song as Sky Masterson
in “Guys and Dolls.”

Samuel Goldwyn, producer of
the musical, announced the sur-
prise casting after such actors as
Gene Kelly, Gary Grant and Burt
Lancaster were reported to have
had the inside track for the role.

As the Damon Runyon charac-
ter, he will sing for the first time
professionally. The gambler-hero’s
part is the first to be filled.

The casting also marks the sec-
ond time Mr. Brando will have
worked under the direction of Jo-
seph L. Mankiewicz. He played
Mark Anthony in the director's
presentation of “Julius Caesar.”

Mr. Brando is being seen in “On
the Waterfront.” He is currently
working in “Desiree” as Napoleon.

Macy’s Promotes
“Susan Slept Here’

R. H. Macy and Company, New
York, has returned to tie-ups for
motion pictures with a promotion
on RKO’s “Susan Slept Here,”
which opened at the Victoria Thea-
tre July 29. Macy’s last film tie-up
was three months ago.

The day before the Technicolor
comedy went into the Victoria,
Macy’s ran a full-page advertise-
ment in The New York Times
saluting the performance of Debbie
Reynolds, co-star with Dick Pow-
ell of “Susan Slept Here.”

Exhibitors Poll
Names Winners

Motion Picture Exhibitor has an-
nounced its sixth Annual Interna-
tional Laurel Award winners after
a poll of theatre exhibitors.

Among those cited were Michael
Curtiz, director; Walt Disney, pro-
ducer; Cecil B. De Mille, produc-
er-director, and Marilyn Monroe
and Gary Cooper, performers.

The best films, in four catego-
ries, were “From Here To Eterni-
ty,” “Stalag 17,” “Lili® and
“Shane.”

Acting honors went to Burt Lan-
caster-and Deborah Kerr in “From
Here to Eternity”; Donald O’Con-
nor in “Call Me Madam”; Doris
Day in “Calamity Jane"; Martin
and Lewis in “The Caddy”; and
Jack Palance in “Shane.”

Ben Hur

Sam Zimbalist is to produce
Ben Hur for MGM, this big-scale
production has been given a
Spring, 1955, starting date, with an
all-star cast.

a

PAGE FIVE

By TOM KNIGHT

Let's do more work. We have
been hearing the blues cried by
many people within the motion
picture business that Television is
cutting in on their profits, business
is down, the people are staying
away in larger numbers than ever
before, Thursdays are bad nights
because it’s fight night, Saturday
is bad because of the big shows,
Tuesday has Milton Berle, Wed-
nesday is play night, who wants to
go out on Monday, anyway, we
have to get over the weekend. This
has been going on ever since Tele-
vision became popular :ifter the
war. The receipts are down, the
business has dropped off.

Despite the new screen process-
es, CinemaScope, Wide Screen,
Stereophonic Sound, VistaVision,
Cinerama, the 2D pictures are
making money as well... . “The
Caine Mutiny,” “The Kidnappers,”
“Stalag 17,” “Roman Holiday,”
“The Moon Is Blue,” “Moulin
Rouge” and many others.

But even with all the scopes,
etc., the manager and theatre exhi-
bitor still has the last say where
the picture does business.

Since the cry “TV is ruining
me” has gone out, many people
have watched the business grad-
ually go from their theatre to the
Television store on the corner, but
that exhibitor never realized that
it was his own fault. It was his
inactivity that brought the “21”
screen into so much prominence.
Still satisfied with booking his pic-
tures, Opening his doors and sit-
ting back waiting for the crowds
to rip the walls down to get into
his emporium, he never realizes
that the crowds would like to be
told that the neighbourhood house
is showing a picture which might
entertain them.

It has been going on too long.
Let’s do something that may make
a trip to the local theatre a night
out rather than, “There’s nothing
on TY tonight. Let’s go to the
movies.”

If the exhibitor goes out and
sells the film, ties up a few stores,
tries a gimmick or two, promotes
the picture, and follows through

on the many helpful suggestions
that the distributor sends him,
uses some of the national tie-ups
that are promoted for the exhibi-
tor’s benefit, he will probably
spend a happy vacation in Florida,
(Continued on Page 6)

|

_ motion picture exhibitors that, during the 1954-55 season, his company
will release more top productions than in any single year since the

founding of United Artists in 1919.

Mr. Krim’s pledge came in re-
sponse to a letter addressed to all
distributing companies by R. J.
O'Donnell, Vice-President of the
Interstate Circuit in Texas. Mr.
O'Donnell had expressed the hope
that there would be more “A” pic-
tures available for the 1954-55
season.

In his reply, Mr. Krim_ said
UA’s “delivery of potential block-
busters will be several times the
number distributed by us this past
year and far more than in any
single year in the 35-year history
of United Artists.”

CinemaScope

(Continued from Page 1)
in the number of key theatres de-
ciding to exhibit CinemaScope
product.

With the two major circuits,
Famous Players Canadian Corp.
and Odeon Theatres (Canada) Ltd.
already equipped in all their major
first run situations, and now begin-
ning to present CinemaScope in
their sub-runs, the balance of the
other top circuits and many inde-
pendents have voted themselves in.
In addition, to the above, B&F
(Toronto); National Theatres (Fin-
gold and Dale); the Biltmore Thea-
ters; Premier Theatres and Twen-
tieth Century Theatres (N. A. Tay-
lor), are installing CinemaScope.

To the previously announced
Twentieth Century houses set for
CinemaScope, Lindsey, Orillia and
Hanover, Vic Beattie, 20th-Fox
Toronto branch manager, last week
announced that openings have
been set for the Westwood, Park
and Birchcliffe, and that Premier
has added Tillsonburg, Stratford
and Simcoe to its list of situations
installing CinemaScope.

Wilson Leading In
Lucky Seven Contest

Harry Wilson, Capitol, Chatham,
has taken a sizeable lead in the
race for top honors in Bill Tru-
dell’s “C"” District, Lucky Seven
Publicity Contest. With seven Fa-
mous Players managers competing,
Wilson, at the end of 8 weeks had
rung up 22,300 points, with Bill
Burke, Capito], Brantford 16,950
in second place and Les Preston,
Capitol, St. Thomas with 10,500
points, in third place.

There are three main prizes,
$100, $50, and $25 for the three
top men and an individual prize of
$15 for the best scrap book sub-
mitted in the last 5 weeks.

The UA President added: “This
should react to the great benefit of
exhibitors throughout the country
and, if we continue to get the
kind of cooperation and support
which we have had these past few
years, we hope to have even an
increased number of A pictures for
the 1955-56 season.”

Mr. Krim cited some of the films
on UA's 1954-55 release schedule,
including “Apache,” “The Long
Wait,” “Crossed Swords,” “The

“piereT

ore Than 50 Pictures From U-A

Arthur B, Krim, President of United Artists, has pledged to

Barefoot Contessa,” “Vera Cruz,”
“Adventures of Robinson Crusoe,”
“Not As A Stranger,” “The Gab-
riel Horn,’ “The Night of the
Hunter,” “Suddenly,” ‘Othello,”
“Time of the Cuckoo,” “Alexander
The Conqueror” and the untitled
Jane Russell starring film.

These and other films listed
above are completed or in pre-
paration.

“We pledge you this,” Mr. Krim
wrote to Mr. O’Donnell, “we will
deliver more than 50 pictures at
the rate of at least four a month
in 1954-55 and we promise you a

preponderance of big ones.”

Across the Country

(Continued from Page 3)

Gregor of New Waterford is installing CinemaScope with full Stereo-
phonic Sound sometimes during the month of August.
= e e e

Mr, Samuel Goldfeather, father-in-law of Mr. Mitchell Bernstein
passed away last week at the age of 83 years.
e e e
Mr. Morton Bernstein is on a business trip throughout Nova Scotia.

The West

George Thrift, Les Walker and Frank Smith executives of Projec-

tionists Local 348 have left for Cincinnati to attend the National conven-
tion of the IATSE.

: Pola-Lite engineer Bill Spooner and Tex Cates, Canadian rep. were
in for a tradeshowing of the new Pola-Lite 3-D single film system held
at the Capitol, Vancouver, Exhibitor reaction was favorable.
e 6 e
Ross Forrester is the new assistant to Charlie Doctor, Capitol
Vancouver. He succeeds Victor Tombe, who was promoted to manager
of the suburban Regent, replacing Mac Smee.
e e e
Two FPCC Vancouver managers, Ivan A ckery, Orpheum and David
Borland of the Dominion are holidaying on Vancouver Island beaches.
oe a Qa
A crackdown on all Bingo games, whether for charity or not, was

promised by Vancouver City Council. They are strong opposition to
theatres,

e e e

Vancouver is busting at the seams with visitors from all over the
world here for the British Empire Games which runs for 8 days. Thirty
thousand were present at the Opening,

e e e

A 100 B.C. showmen and district office heads were present ata
demonstration of “Advancing Techniques of CinemaScope” at the Capitol
Vancouver, Screening drew widespread praise from B.C. exhibitors.
Arthur Silverstone, Assistant Sales Manager of 20th-Fox and Peter Myers,
Canadian General Manager were in charge of the demonstration, and
expect a rush of orders for CinemaScope in the Three Prairie Provinces
and out here on the Pacific,

° € e

The replica of one of the original Royal North West Mounted Police
posts, built by Universal-International at a cost of thousands of dollars
for the movie “Saskatchewan,” is reported to be uncared for and falling
apart. It is about a year old.

The fort was presented to the people of Banff as an additionat
fourist attraction but tourists can’t find it easily because there are no
highway directional signs.

One whole section of the fort's log wall has collapsed and doors of
the buildings have been wrenched off.

AUGUST 7, 1954

—=

| Showmanship |

(Continued from Page 5)
because he has done a good job
for the film and the entertainment
business of which he is an impor-
tant part and not just a retailer of
first class goods.

The perfect example of an ex-
hibitor working for a picture and
himself, was Mr. S. Slutker of the
Plaza Theatre in Calgary, when
he booked “Genevieve” second
run. He went out and worked. He
took larger space with the news-
papers; he promoted his custom-
ers, he played an all-color show,
and used all the old but still suc-
cessful ways to make his engage-
ment a success. What a_ success
was proved after he had the first
holdover, and then another, fi-
nally playing the film for eight
weeks. Yes, eight weeks, second
run. The distributor was very
happy, the theatre was compli-
mented by its patrons for playing
such a_ perfect program, and
thanks to Mr. Sultker and_ his
showmanship, Calgary enjoyed a
long run.

Thanks to the circuits the man-
agers do work and have an excel-
lent standing with their local press
and store owners, and if showman-
ship continues to develop, as it has
this year, the movies will always
be regarded as the best form of
entertainment, even by the TV fan.

Pawcasssouanst

(Continued from Page !)
versary sales drive which will be-
gin here and in the U.S. on Aug-
ust 29 and extend for 14 weeks
through December 4. The drive
slogan is “Paramount’s 40th An-
niversary—A Salute to the Fut-
ure.”

Barron, who is in charge of
public relations and advertising for
Paramount in Canada, also is edit-
or and commentator for Canadian
Paramount newsreel.

Preparations underway for the
drive envisage one of the biggest
events of its kind in the company’s
40-year history. “A. W. Schwal-
berg Anniversary Week,” August
29-September 4, in tribute to the
President of Paramount Film Dis-
tributing Corporation, and ‘“Para-
mount Week,” September 5-11, will
highlight the Fortieth Anniversary
Sales Drive.

JARO Dvivwe

(Continued from Page 1)
Scott. Closely following him in
second place was Phil Geller of
Winnipeg, and in third place was
Jack Reid of Vancouver.

AAUGUST 7, 1954

tte”

That Could

Satter Y
By MAX CHIC

At the Ballyhoo Contest lunch-
seon, Mr. Fitzgibbons asked prize
‘winner Jack Bridges, of Timmins,
‘if he had ever worked in a gold
mine... the answer was yes...
and Mr. Fitzgibbons said, “keep
diggin it up, Jack!” . . . Paul Turn-
bull joins Twinex in Hamilton...
Peter Myers, Vic Beattie and Sam
Glasier in New York for head-
office discussions.

While waiting for Norma Dog-
ett, one of MGM’s “Seven Brides’,
Hilly Cass, Canadian General
Manager for MGM told us that
GWTW outgrossed its original
opening, years back at Loew’s, To-
ronto . with the same breath
he mentioned that “Seven Brides”
had set a new record for a “nor-
mal week” at Radio City Music
Hall.

JARO’s “Man With A Million”
had a special screening last Sun-
day for Nash, Dominion Store,
JARO and Odeon employees . . .
Rumor has it, that Pola-Lite, the
single-print 3-D system, are con-
Sidering going into production...
we hope so, as it will guarantee
top product for a medium that can
attract many people to our box-
Offices.

The Cinerama people who are
expanding to Europe this fall, are
also considering two Canadian
situations . plans for Cinema-
Scope installations in a number of
Distributor’s screening rooms are
being readied . . . R. W. Bolstad
is quoted on the back page of the
Motion Picture Daily, from a
speech at a luncheon in honor of
Charlie Doctor, Quigley Award
winner . . . the quote, “For writ-
ing, there’s the Pulitzer prize; for
acting, there’s the Oscar; and for
men in the motion picture exhi-
bition field, there’s the Quigley
Award for showmanship.

Esquire Films, Ltd., which used
to release British films under the
guidance of Archie Laurie, has
applied for leave to surrender its
charter . . . a worthwhile charity,
and one that has won industry
wide support, the Will Rogers
Memorial Hospital, has energetic
Harvey Harnick, singing its praise
... any donations can either be
sent to the Digest, care of this
column or direct to Harvey Har-
nick, Columbia Pictures, 72 Carl-
ton St., Toronto.

The Event Of The Week... 8
baby girl to Ben Okun’s son-in-
law, Bernie Rothbart.

Cc

Om The Waterfront

“On the Waterfront,” set a non-
holiday opening day mark on Wed-
nesday at the Astor theatre offi-
cials disclosed. Only two pictures
in the history of the-house, both
of which opened on holidays play-
ed to larger grosses on the first day.

It continued its record-breaking
pace, on its second day and may
set a new high for the Astor.

Sigms New Contract
Dan Dailey was signed to a new

. contract by 20th Fox . : . he will go

to MGM on loan to join Gene

Kelly in a comedy with music “It ~

Is Always Fair Weather”.

“pIeerT

Lowell Chomas

(Continued from Page 1)
in New York City, where it ran
10 weeks, grossing over $100,000
for the engagement.

The book, by Lowell Thomas,
Jr., was serialized in Collier's
Magazine, and headed the non-
fiction best-seller lists for several
months. In addition, it was con-
densed in Reader’s Digest, with
an estimated reader coverage of
over 16,000,000. “Out of This
World” will head Alliance’s 1954-
55 releases, with a number of other
important pictures to be announc-
ed shortly. .

Wz Traus- Canada oe

TORONTO
IMPERIAL

Second week. Knock On Wood (Para.)
Technicolor with Danny Kaye.
SHEA’S
Living It Up (Pora.) Technicolor with
Martin and Lewis,
UNIVERSITY
Princess Of The Nile (20th-Fox) Tech-
nicolor with Debra Paget.
EGLINTON
3 Coins In The Fountain (20th-Fox)
CinemaScope and Technicolor with Clif-
ton Webb.
NORTOWN
Fifth week. Dial M for Murder
WornerColor with Roy Milland.
ODEON
Second week. Garden Of Evil (20th-Fox)
CinemaScope and Technicolor with Sus-
an Hayward.
UPTOWN
Her Twelve
Greer Garson,
LOEW'S
Second week. Gone With The Wind
(MGM) Technicolor with Vivien Leigh.
HYLAND & CHRISTIE
The Maggie (JARO) with Paul Douglas.
TOWNE CINEMA
Fourth week. La Ronde (IFD).
INTERNATIONAL CINEMA
Twenty-second week. Hobson’s Choice
(IFD) with Charles Laughton.

MONTREAL
PALACE

3 Coins in the Fountain (20th-Fox)
CinemaScope & Technicolor with Clifton
Webb.
LOEW'S
Fifth Week. Knock on Wood (Para.)
Technicolor with Danny Kaye.
PRINCESS
Silver Lode (RKO) Technicolor with John
Payne and Lizabeth Scott.
CAPITOL
Indiscretion of an American Wife (Col.)
with Jennifer Jones and Montgomery
Clift.
IMPERIAL
The Man with the Iron Glove, Techni-
color and Paris Model (Col.).
KENT
Fifth Month, The Kidnappers (JARO)
with Vincent Winter.
SEVILLE
Marlag ‘O’ (IFD) with Anthony Steel.
ALOUETTE
The Heiress Fr. (Pora.) with Olivia de
Haviland and Montgomery Clift.

(WB)

Men (MGM) Color with

WINNIPEG
CAPITOL
2nd week. 3 Coins in the Fountain
(20th-Fox) CinemaScope and Techni-

color with Clifton Webb.
LYCEUM

Three Young Texans (20th-Fox) Tech-

USE THIS INFORMATION AS YOUR GUIDE ON RELEASE DATES ~--~-—-—

nicolor and House of Blackmail (20th-
Fox). °

MET
Carnival Story (RKO) Technicolor with
Anne Baxter.

ODEON
“Ma and Pa Kettle at Home” (E-U)
with Marjorie Main.

GARRICK

New Faces (20th-Fox) CinemaScope
with Eartha Kitt.
GAIETY

Make Hoste to Live (E-U) ond The
Sun Shines Bright (E-U).

VANCOUVER
CAPITOL

2nd week, 3 Coins
20th-Fox) CinemaScope
color with Cliftom Webb.

ORPHEUM
Men of the Fighting Lady (MGM) with
Van Johnson and Walter Pidgeon, In
Color.

STRAND
Dail M For Murder (WB) and Duffy of
Son Quentin (WB).

STUDIO
Times Gone By (IFD) with Gina Lollo-
brigida.

VOGUE
Mon With a Million (JARO) Technicolor
with Gregory Peck.

PLAZA
The Miami Story (Col.) and The Desper-
ado (AA).

PARADISE
Black Horse Canyon (E-U) Technicolor
and The Killers.

DUNBAR
12th Week. The Kidnappers (JARO) with
Vincent Winter.

CALGARY
CAPITOL

Executive Suite (MGM)
Holden and June Allyson,
PALACE
Pinocchio (RKO) in Technicolor
Prowlers of the Everglades (RKO)
UPTOWN
Man With a Million (JARO) Technicolor
with Gregory Peck.
GRAND
Garden of Evil (20th-Fox) CinemaScope,
Technicolor with Gary Cooper, Susan
Hayward and Richard Widmark.
STRAND
Held Over. Racing Blood (20th-Fox) and
Broken Arrow (20th-Fox).

SAINT JOHN
STRAND

Mon With o Million (JARO) Technicolor
with Gregory Peck.

CAPITOL
Men of the Fighting Lody (MGM) with
Von Johnson and Walter Pidgeon. In
Color,

PARAMOUNT
Living It Up (Pora.) Technicolor with
Martin ond Lewis.

in the Fountain
and Techni-

with William

and

PAGE SEVEN

that

Dore Schary announces
MGM has purchased “The .Ten-
der Trap,” a sophisticated comedy
which will have its legit opening
on Broadway this Fall; also “Tea
& Sympathy another Broadway
starrer, Winner of New York
Drama Critics Award . . . RKO
has signed Robert Pirosh as di-
rector- writer for the Rosalind
Russell Technicolor musical, “The
Girl Rush,” in VistaVision.

Gary Grant and Grace Kelly
back in the U.S. after completing
assignments on the Alfred Hitch-
cock Technicolor thriller, “To
Catch A Thief” shot in VistaVision
... United Artists announces two
for Robert Mitchum, “Not As A
Stranger” and “The Night Of The
Hunter”; also from the United Art-
ists lot the forthcoming drama
“The White Orchid,” featuring
William Lundigan and Peggie
Castle.

Latest major release for 20th-
Fox is the CinemaScope drama
“Broken Lance,” to be followed by
the Technicolor Panoramic Pro-
duction “The Raid” which will
have its premiere in New York,
August 13th . . . Mervyn LeRoy
has been assigned the direction for
Warner's “Lewis and Clark” in
Cinerama and the CinemaScope
WarnerColor drama “Strange Lady
In Town,” which has as its leads
Greer Garson and Dana Andrews.

Rod Cameron, Joan Leslie and
John Russell were set by Republic
to top the cast of “Hell's Outpost”
. .. Alaska will be the location
for the Allied Artists, Mark Stev-
ens starrer, “Ketchikan,” starting
date set for July 3lst .. . Para-
mount reports that two new Pine
& Thomas productions are to be
produced in VistaVision.

450-seat theatre

well located in town of 3,000,
Modern projector and screen,
In good repair.

Price $35,000

Terms can be atranged.

Contact:

HARLAND RANKIN,
c/o O'BRIEN REALTY
128 Queen Street, Chatham, Ontario.

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